Corrigan

The American College of Surgeons is the group to look for when considering a Center of Excellence. There are other groups offering accredidation, but the ACS is, by far the best.

I should have put this in the last post. The Geisinger Clinic is fully accredited by the Anerican College of Surgeons(there are four in PA) and should give you the very best service you'll find.

I'm driving more than 150 miles through the worst traffic in the country to go to an ACS Center of Excellence.You'll probably have your Lapband for the rest of your life and it'll, no doubt, be a very large part of your life, so it just makes good sense to get the very best surgery you can. Al's plumbing and Lapband service is probably a bad bet. Make the trip, you won't regret it and the very best of luck to you.

As long as it's not red and hot, still in the right place, it's probably ok, but if you're really concerned, you should thinking about seeing a medical professional. Good luck in whatever decide.

Sometimes you just have to eat something good! Watch your step from here on out! ; > )

Lapband surgery has changed a great deal in the past few years. According to my surgeon, the failure rate for ACS accredited Lapband operations is currently less than 1%. Previously, the failure rate was about 8%. Hopefully, in a year or so, we can survey todays patients receiving the Lapband in accredited Hospitals and clinics to see just how dependable they are.

If you look at how a straw works you'll see that the level of liquid in the straw is the same as the level in the container. From the top of the liquid to the top of the straw is air. Every time you drink, you swallow that amount of air. If it bothers you, don't do it, if it doesn't cause you distress, you're good to go. But do what your doctor tells you anyway ; > )

I wonder if there isn't some confusion about Plication, banded Plication, and the procedure where a portion of the stomach is folded over the band to prevent slippage, sometimes called "Modified Plication". I'm having the latter done Monday and I'll let you know how it goes.

Try a defrosted meatball blended with a little spaghetti sauce and Pamrisian cheese. It shouldn't have too many calories, and really sounds good. Go to Google and enter WLS recipies and you should get a wealth of ideas. Best of luck to you.

Amy, would you mind if I save your post to give to others with questions? Your name is on the top so the article is always yours, I'd just like to borrow it.

Many hospitals ask that you bring your mask with you--if-- you know the pressure setting of your machine. If not, you should bring the entire machine. Most have carrying bags, so it really isn't a problem.

You do good work Cindy, I wonder if you could explain the success rate for unaffiliated WLS centers and the American College of surgeons Centers of Excellence? Another question I have Is, what is the difference between plication and "modified plication" where a portion of the stomach is folded over the band and stitched in place to prevent slippage, and how successful is it? I go in Monday and would really like to know.

Isn't that "Plication"? I go in Monday and am interested in it. Apparently (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) there is the type of Plication where the stomach is inverted and stapled in place and "modified plication" where a portion of the stomach is just folded over and stitched in place to prevent the band from slipping. I know this is a simplistic explanation, but It's what I have.

At my initial consultation, we were told that a hospital accredited by the American College of Surgeons Bariatric Surgery Center Network as a Center of Excellence had a complication rate of less than 1% and 0 fatalities since 2004. I found that to be pretty impressive, and after reading some of the horror stories on some of these forums, I thought that would be the way to go. Everyone has to go with who they feel most comfortable with and for me it was Cedar-Sinai in W. Hollywood, although the travel for the entire program, will be over 2500 miles (half of that in LA traffic) which is the worst part of it all.

I took Advil for several years until they ate a hole in my stomach, then tried Aleave an finally Mirapex and it seems to be the only thing that works for me. If I work outside (we have a ranch) for six or eight hours that helps, too.

If you can find an immersion blender (there are a bunch on ebay) they mix Protein Powder to the consistency of a milkshake (almost) and make them much more palatable. A little fruit helps too.

I'm going the twelveth, I'll let you know how it turns out. Good luck.

Boy, listen to you! All professional and stuff.

Mine was the same as Screeden's. Two shakes and a tiny little dinner. I go in next Monday. I'll be glad to get it over.

Hi Patty, (my daughter's name too), after studying everything I can find for the last 4 months, l have a lot of questions too. I go in next Monday and am on Protein shakes and one little bitty meal a day 'till then, and I don't want to think about after that. There are a lot of people on this forum that can help you with almost any weight problem if you'll just listen. You have to reach down deep and find all the will power you can muster, pay attention to the advice you're going to get and you'll do wonderfully. Best of luck and hang in there.

Hi Sue. I hate to tell third party stories, but I have a close friend, 66yrs, who was banded last Dec. and has lost 70 lbs and is off all diabetes medication, his sleep apnea is gone and his night time leg cramps no longer bother him. He's the one who convinced me to get the Lapband (I go next monday). I have most of the health problems he had, along with an extra 100lbs. Some people ask "Why bother at your age?", but I've been active all my life and hate to quit now. If you compare the sleeve to the Lapband online and in this forum, I'm sure you'll come to the correct decision for you, and you'll probably get a lot of posts here that'll help you make up your mind. Whatever you decide, the very best of luck.

Hi, I'm just down the road from you (near Newberry Springs, CA). I'm a little older than you and also getting the band. From what I've read, the Lapband is just as effective as the sleeve over a year's period. I also have about 100lbs to loose and have no doubts that I will. I go next Monday and I'll let you know how it goes. Best of luck and keep in touch.

Welcome Carla. I bet I'm from a smaller town than you. How about 200 people? If it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't have any real world information at all. My hospital and doctor are 150 miles away. I get banded next Monday and I'm ready to get this over. Best of luck, you won't have any trouble making friends, this is a great place to be.

I've had it for several years and take Mirapex three times a day, but suffer greatly if I forget to take them. I bought a recumbent excercise bike and use that to relieve cramps that happen at night (walking probably works as well). I've tried a lot of things that were supposed to work, but the pills are the only dependable thing I've found.